By Rose S. Prinzi

Eight-year-old Joshua was excited to get on his bike after the long winter months.  As he enjoyed the wonderful spring weather, he reached the peak of the neighborhood hill. While he prepared to descend, he realized too late that he was unable to break his accelerating speed.  Uncontrollably, he flew through an intersection and hit the curb on the opposite side of the street.  His bike flew to the right; he went to the left, sliding across the sidewalk into a hedge.  Although he had some pretty good scrapes and bruises on his arms and face, he was fortunate that he was not seriously injured.  However, he did not realize how fortunate he was until he examined his helmet.  The helmet, which was cracked in five places, was compressed 3/8” where his head hit the sidewalk.   This story has a happy ending. If it weren’t for Joshua’s protective helmet, he could have been seriously injured. 

Bike riding is a lot of fun, but accidents happen.  Every year, about 300,000 children go the emergency department because of bike injuries. 

Recently, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation awarded a Field of Interest Grant to the Panama Central School’s Health & Safety Committee for their Bicycle Safety Week Project. Through the Foundation’s Axel W. Carlson Memorial Fund, the PCS Health and Safety Committee was able to purchase bike helmets and wheel spoke reflectors to be distributed at their Bike Rodeo.  The helmets were given to students who did not have a helmet or whose helmets did not pass inspection. As an added safety device, reflectors were given to the students for their bikes.

The Panama Central School’s Bicycle Safety Week included a variety of activities engaging kindergarten to high school students.  Activities included students making posters to demonstrate bike safety rules and daily announcements were made concerning bike safety tips. Students from the high school prepared a bike safety video. This video was aired during the bike safety assembly held on Friday.  Gym classes included practicing bike safety rules by doing drills on scooters. To conclude the weeklong project, a Bike Rodeo was held on Saturday where there was a bike safety obstacle course, bike safety check station, helmet inspection and helmet distribution.

The Foundation is interested in projects like the PCS Bicycle Safety Week. Through its online application process, nonprofit organizations can request funding by submitting a request at www.Chautauquagrants.org. Monthly Field of Interest Grant requests are accepted  at this site.  The deadline date to submit an application is the last Friday of each month by 5:00 p.m.  Project requests range from $200 to $2,000.

If you are interested in learning more about the Foundation’s Field of Interest Grants, go to www.Chautauquagrants.org and click on Chautauqua Region Community Foundation or call 661-3390.